A Little Encouragement

I have managed to get hold of a copy of the Chichester DC's Local Development plan - click here to see it, page 10 is of interest to Camelsdale residents and those who come to the rec.

http://www.chichester.gov.uk/documents/upload/email%20version%20LDF%20DDO%20North%2Epdf

In a nutshell it suggests that new build on the rec is unlikely to happen before 2018 - 11 years away BUT that it will almost certainly happen then. Of course, things can change. Global warming may drive many people away from the south and south east as tempratures rise lessening the pressure on potential building sites. On the other hand as demand for homes for single people (divorcees or people choosing to live alone) or young couples increases, the pressure may be so great that plans are brought forward from 2018 to an earlier date.

Whatever, I'm off to the 'informal consutation' now and will return with news shortly.

Getting in First

There's a great deal of information on the internet about how to object successfully to proposed developments. Here's a good link to the BBC and here's a nice picture. http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/A12794871

I'll post links to Chichester DC planning department asap. I hope they accept objections by email as well as post. You can also ring your local councillor and ask for your objection(s) to be noted. Names, addresses and contact details to follow soon. Plus some nice photo's showing what could be lost.

I've also changed this site to include anomymous and unmoderated comments. So please leave your views.

Flyers Flying

I put some flyers about this site in to Cee Gees, the local store and they've gone already. Only ten of them - a bit of market testing you see, but they went within less than 24 hours. And the store was closed for 10 of those hours. More to come. I'm also wondering about putting a downloadable poster on the site (if I can work out how to do that). It would be brilliant to have loads of posters in windows objecting to the possible development by the 31st. So as the council people arrive for their - ahem, 'consultation' they'll see objections all the way.

Our lovely place is under threat

Let me start by saying that I of course have an interest. My house overlooks the beautiful Camelsdale recreation ground. So every morning when I get up I can look out over our fence and see the ground, the trees, early morning dog walkers, joggers or wildlife. But this site isn't about me or my family, it's actually about preserving a vital part of our community.

Chichester District Council is under pressure from the government to build more homes, as are all local authorities in the South and South East. It has, according to press reports decided that building on Camelsdale recreation ground (the Rec) is a possible option. Some reports suggest that as many as fifty, that's 50 houses could be built here. Everyone understands that people want to live in this part of Sussex. It's beautiful, close to London and the coast, affluent and so on. Changing population trends such as many more single people as well as young people trying to get on to the housing ladder mean that the demand for housing is increasing.

But Camelsdale has done, and is doing its bit. In the last few years we have seen brownfield sites developed, infill housing and higher density housing built in the village. We've also felt the effects of great pressure on the roads and utilities as a result. But the idea of concreting over a much loved recreation ground is a step too far. Here's why.

It's a greenfield site. That means it's not been built on before and there are still many brownfield sites available.

Most importantly it's a vital part of our community. It's a green 'lung', a space where children play, dogs are walked, sports enjoyed, teenagers hang out, people meet and talk - all the things which form part of a community's social glue. To destroy the Rec would be to start killing Camelsdale.

Wildlife needs it. Kingfishers have reappeared by the stream, Owls hunt and hoot at night, it's a corridor for deer, badgers, foxes and other creatures making their way to and from the woods.

It's a sump. By that I mean that runoff water from rainfall makes the lower part of the rec muddy which is what prevents our gardens and roads flooding. Building over it would increase the risk of flooding.

I could go on but I won't on this post. Please please please, if you want to save the rec for our children and their children and for all the people of our community and all the people who visit this lovely place from outside the village add your comments to this site. I'll also put up pictures of the rec and information about how to protest as more info becomes available. I'll also make sure that this site becomes a conduit to the councils, both Parish and District. This isn't the only way to make our protest known - write letters, collar councillors and our MP, sign petitions and come to the meeting at Camelsdale Church on the 31st of January either at 4 - 6 p.m. or 7 - 9 to learn more about the 'options'.

If you want to leave a comment - fire away, but please no swearing or carpet-chewing and slagging off the council. The more comments and support the better. Let's roll.

PS, If you're wondering why this post is signed by Drugsblogger it's because I have another blog under that name and I'm Chief Exec of a drug treatment charity.